Baltimore to hire 2 new violent crime prosecutors

Baltimore’s mayor says the city will hire two new prosecutors and detail them to the U.S. attorney’s office to build federal cases against violent criminals in the city.

Thursday’s announcement came in response to a spike in violent crime. The city has seen 50 shootings and 21 homicides since June 21.

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake says reducing violent crime is the top priority of her administration. She says the “new prosecutors will target the worst of the worst violent offenders in neighborhoods that have struggled most with crime.” The mayor says offenders who are prosecuted federally will face longer sentences.

U.S. Attorney Rod Rosenstein has long worked closely with city prosecutors and made violent crime a priority of his office.